Thomas Demand
Dailies 2008-2014
September 18–November 1, 2014
Berlin

Since 2008 Thomas Demand has been making the Dailies, a series of photographs developed from pictures he has taken on his camera phone. Best known for large-scale photographs of life-sized models built by the artist, which might portray an interior space linked to the news or recent history, the Dailies see Demand turn his attention to the overlooked details of everyday life. The printed works are relatively small, yet achieve an intensity that goes beyond their source material: phone snapshots of minor, offhand scenes, such as a laundry line or an abandoned ice-cream cup. The Dailies have been exhibited widely, from Australia to New York, as well as Sprüth Magers London, in 2012. This is the first time they are exhibited in Germany and will include the two latest works, Daily #22 and #23 (both 2014).

The everyday subject matter is put into sharp relief by the richness of the colours, which Demand achieves by making each print with the labour-intensive method of dye-transfer, a process that involves fixing dyes with gelatine to ordinary paper. Demand chose this process for its saturated colours, spatial depth, intense darkness, as well as the durability of the pigments, all elements that serve to emphasise the formal power of the photographs. Even if the photograph depicts little more than an ephemeral model of a straw and cup lid tossed onto the pavement, the print itself is a delicately crafted object.

The Dailies reflect the pervasive photo-snapping culture of the present day, the current urge to seize and share any momentary scene or event, yet Demand brings a forceful intensity to these everyday scenes. The full contrasts and dynamic compositions often bring to mind modernist and geometrical abstraction. A bathroom mirror, reminiscent of a restaurant anywhere, becomes an angled grid, suggesting a Suprematist composition. Venetian blinds, messed up and radiating a blue glow, could be a readymade Rothko. A clear plastic glass, half-full of yellow liquid, sits precariously on a windowsill. Partially reflected in the window behind it, the composition is as tense and balanced as the scene it depicts. In one of the two recent works Daily #22, a small ice-cream cup sits abandoned on a ledge, the handle of its purple spoon extending into the foreground, casting a small shadow. Behind, the vertical lines of a dark grey barrier intersect with the dull beige of a ledge. A gentle shadow wraps itself around the white ice-cream cup, creating a compact area of subtle tonal gradations. Above all, this is a spatial construction, an abstraction attentive to tone, composition, and internal coherence. The Dailies highlight these spaces of everyday beauty, suggesting that even a glimpse of a disposable scene can be transformed into an object of infinite contemplation.

 

Installation Views
Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Dailies 2008-2014
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, September 18–November 1, 2014

Thomas Demand
Dailies 2008-2014
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, September 18–November 1, 2014
Photo: Timo Ohler

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Dailies 2008-2014
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, September 18–November 1, 2014

Thomas Demand
Dailies 2008-2014
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, September 18–November 1, 2014
Photo: Timo Ohler

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Dailies 2008-2014
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, September 18–November 1, 2014

Thomas Demand
Dailies 2008-2014
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, September 18–November 1, 2014
Photo: Timo Ohler

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Dailies 2008-2014
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, September 18–November 1, 2014

Thomas Demand
Dailies 2008-2014
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, September 18–November 1, 2014
Photo: Timo Ohler

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Dailies 2008-2014
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, September 18–November 1, 2014

Thomas Demand
Dailies 2008-2014
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, September 18–November 1, 2014
Photo: Timo Ohler

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Dailies 2008-2014
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, September 18–November 1, 2014

Thomas Demand
Dailies 2008-2014
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, September 18–November 1, 2014
Photo: Timo Ohler

Details
Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Dailies 2008-2014
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, September 18–November 1, 2014
Photo: Timo Ohler

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Dailies 2008-2014
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, September 18–November 1, 2014
Photo: Timo Ohler

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Dailies 2008-2014
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, September 18–November 1, 2014
Photo: Timo Ohler

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Dailies 2008-2014
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, September 18–November 1, 2014
Photo: Timo Ohler

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Dailies 2008-2014
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, September 18–November 1, 2014
Photo: Timo Ohler

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Dailies 2008-2014
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, September 18–November 1, 2014
Photo: Timo Ohler

Details
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Exhibited Works
Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Daily #01, 2008

Thomas Demand
Daily #01, 2008
Dye transfer print, framed
83.2 × 84.1 × 5.2 cm (framed)
32 3/4 × 33 × 2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Daily #03, 2008

Thomas Demand
Daily #03, 2008
Dye transfer print, framed
79.8 × 76.5 × 5.2 cm (framed)
31 3/8 × 30 1/8 × 2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Daily #08, 2009

Thomas Demand
Daily #08, 2009
Dye transfer print, framed
70.2 × 73.2 × 5.2 cm (framed)
27 5/8 × 28 7/8 × 2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Daily #07, 2008

Thomas Demand
Daily #07, 2008
Dye transfer print, framed
83 × 77 × 5.2 cm (framed)
32 3/4 × 30 1/4 × 2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Daily #09, 2009

Thomas Demand
Daily #09, 2009
Dye transfer print, framed
84.4 × 85.2 × 5.2 cm (framed)
33 1/4 × 33 1/2 × 2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Daily #13, 2011

Thomas Demand
Daily #13, 2011
Dye transfer print, framed
63 × 71.5 × 5.2 cm (framed)
24 7/8 × 28 1/8 × 2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Daily #17, 2011

Thomas Demand
Daily #17, 2011
Dye transfer print, framed
61.3 × 84.8 cm (framed)
24 1/8 × 33 3/8 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Daily #14, 2011

Thomas Demand
Daily #14, 2011
Dye transfer print, framed
100.2 × 79.9 cm (framed)
39 1/2 × 31 1/2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Daily #15, 2011

Thomas Demand
Daily #15, 2011
Dye transfer print, framed
73.8 × 59 cm (framed)
29 × 23 1/4 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Daily #16, 2011

Thomas Demand
Daily #16, 2011
Dye transfer print, framed
104.2 × 84.2 × 5.2 cm (framed)
41 × 33 1/8 × 2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Daily #20, 2012

Thomas Demand
Daily #20, 2012
Dye transfer print, framed
61.8 × 76.6 cm (framed)
24 1/4 × 30 1/8 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Daily #21, 2013

Thomas Demand
Daily #21, 2013
Dye transfer print, framed
59.8 × 45.4 × 5.2 cm (framed)
23 1/2 × 17 7/8 × 2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Daily #22, 2014

Thomas Demand
Daily #22, 2014
Dye transfer print, framed
62.9 × 49.5 × 5.2 cm (framed)
24 3/4 × 19 1/2 × 2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Daily #23, 2014

Thomas Demand
Daily #23, 2014
Dye transfer print, framed
53.8 × 64.4 × 5.2 cm (framed)
21 1/8 × 25 3/8 × 2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin
Thomas Demand
Daily #19, 2012

Thomas Demand
Daily #19, 2012
Dye transfer print, framed
104.1 × 74.4 cm (framed)
41 × 29 1/4 inches (framed)

Details
Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Daily #01, 2008
Dye transfer print, framed
83.2 × 84.1 × 5.2 cm (framed)
32 3/4 × 33 × 2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand
Daily #01, 2008
Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Daily #03, 2008
Dye transfer print, framed
79.8 × 76.5 × 5.2 cm (framed)
31 3/8 × 30 1/8 × 2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand
Daily #03, 2008
Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Daily #08, 2009
Dye transfer print, framed
70.2 × 73.2 × 5.2 cm (framed)
27 5/8 × 28 7/8 × 2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand
Daily #08, 2009
Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Daily #07, 2008
Dye transfer print, framed
83 × 77 × 5.2 cm (framed)
32 3/4 × 30 1/4 × 2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand
Daily #07, 2008
Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Daily #09, 2009
Dye transfer print, framed
84.4 × 85.2 × 5.2 cm (framed)
33 1/4 × 33 1/2 × 2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand
Daily #09, 2009
Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Daily #13, 2011
Dye transfer print, framed
63 × 71.5 × 5.2 cm (framed)
24 7/8 × 28 1/8 × 2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand
Daily #13, 2011
Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Daily #17, 2011
Dye transfer print, framed
61.3 × 84.8 cm (framed)
24 1/8 × 33 3/8 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand
Daily #17, 2011
Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Daily #14, 2011
Dye transfer print, framed
100.2 × 79.9 cm (framed)
39 1/2 × 31 1/2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand
Daily #14, 2011
Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Daily #15, 2011
Dye transfer print, framed
73.8 × 59 cm (framed)
29 × 23 1/4 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand
Daily #15, 2011
Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Daily #16, 2011
Dye transfer print, framed
104.2 × 84.2 × 5.2 cm (framed)
41 × 33 1/8 × 2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand
Daily #16, 2011
Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Daily #20, 2012
Dye transfer print, framed
61.8 × 76.6 cm (framed)
24 1/4 × 30 1/8 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand
Daily #20, 2012
Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Daily #21, 2013
Dye transfer print, framed
59.8 × 45.4 × 5.2 cm (framed)
23 1/2 × 17 7/8 × 2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand
Daily #21, 2013
Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Daily #22, 2014
Dye transfer print, framed
62.9 × 49.5 × 5.2 cm (framed)
24 3/4 × 19 1/2 × 2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand
Daily #22, 2014
Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Daily #23, 2014
Dye transfer print, framed
53.8 × 64.4 × 5.2 cm (framed)
21 1/8 × 25 3/8 × 2 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand
Daily #23, 2014
Thomas Demand – Dailies 2008-2014 – Berlin

Thomas Demand
Daily #19, 2012
Dye transfer print, framed
104.1 × 74.4 cm (framed)
41 × 29 1/4 inches (framed)

Thomas Demand
Daily #19, 2012
Details
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Selected Press

Thomas Demand: Making history – with paper
BBC Culture, interview by Fiona Macdonald, September 15, 2014